Downregulation of Polymeric Immunoglobulin Receptor Expression Patients with Nasal Polyposis and Allergic Rhinitis

IgA represents a frontline defense factor in the airways, which is transported across the surface epithelium after binding to the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Preliminary results discussed previously showed that the epithelial expression of pIgR is decreased in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The aim of this study was to confirm this downregulation of pIgR in chronic sinonasal pathologies and to correlate it to local IgA levels. These results have been confirmed in CRSwNP on a larger serie of patients. Local IgA levels were measured by ELISA and correlated to the epithelial expression of pIgR. Whether mechanisms of IgA secretion are affected in CRS remains poorly known